RATTOFF® saving teak trees
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Damage to a teak tree from tunnelling rats. One application of RATTOFF® ZP Sachets saved $4million worth of trees.
In a first for the new Invasive Animals CRC a four million dollar teak plantation was recently saved from annihilation by rats.
ACTA R&D Manager Michelle Smith explained that teak is a new plantation industry for far north Queensland.
“The climate and soils are well suited to this sort of forestry operation and offers a significant new agricultural industry for Queensland,” she said.
“Teak trees are deciduous and after losing their leaves the trees store nutrients in the root system.” She explained that the roots can be found by burrowing rats common to sugar cane crops.
“The rats attack the root system of the trees, not only severely threatening or killing young trees, but even semi mature trees can be severely damaged,” she said.
Industry pioneers, Integrated Tree Cropping, had a $4million plantation at risk at the Ray Plantation near Cooktown and called for help from Animal Control Technologies.
Michelle said it was quickly recognised that RATTOFF® ZP Sachet technology might also work in teak. “For a long term solution to the teak problems it was necessary to collect data on the rats and the effectiveness of RATTOFF® in teak plantations,” Michelle said.
“The IA-CRC sponsored research link between Animal Control Technologies and the University of Queensland came into action and team members in Melbourne, Gatton and Brisbane were quickly able to respond to the industry call for help.”
The trials were conducted in October with assistance from Integrated Tree Cropping plantation forester Kevin McDougal and his team at Cooktown and with special permits obtained from the APVMA and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Kevin explained the trials were a spectacular success.
“We observed a demonstrated reduction in rats of approximately 90% within a few days of a single application of RATTOFF® ZP Sachets.”
“The ability of the research team to respond quickly and the effective linking of private industry and university skills and capacity via the CRC program had enabled millions of dollars worth of trees to be saved with just a few kilograms of RATTOFF®,” Kevin said.
A feature of the trial was to check for any unexpected non-target impact and none was found.
Michelle explained that one of the benefits of zinc phosphide was the lower risk of secondary poisoning.
“RATTOFF® does not leave residues in the environment or food chain making it a good option for broadacre control of rats,” she said.
These results build on the successful control of large scale rodent infestations in crops and already the team has received requests for assistance from nut plantations, grain storages and intensive animal facilities, where rats and mice cause major problems.
Animal Control Technologies
46-50 Freight Drive
Somerton, Victoria, 3062
Australia
Telephone +61 3 9308 9688
Fax +61 3 9308 9622
E-mail: enquiries@animalcontrol.com.au
